Folding bumper



Oct 21, 1930; P. A. BENgplc-r 1,178,930

FOLDING BUMPER Filed 1mg. 3o. 1929 nTenQr.- I faul enedz'o,

Patented @et 21, 1930 'FATE Bpi ATENTlorries PAUL A. BENEDICT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FOLDING BUMPER Application filed August 30, 1929. Serial No..v389,329.

extend rearwardly to protect an automobile" approaching from `the rear colliding with and damaging the rack and the trunk or luggage carried thereon or fold up clear of the main bumper when the trunk or luggage is removed and the trunk rack turned up.

further object is simplified construction and greater effectiveness in use.

To these ends my invention comprises the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In

'i5 the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of the rear end of an automobile equipped with my improvement when in use; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved folding trunk rack guard before it is applied to an automobile for use; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the brackets shown attached to the ordinary bumper, the latter being shown in cross section; and Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the clamp plate removed from one of the brackets.

In the drawing, A indicates a detail portion of the rear end of the chassis of an automobile on which is hinged at 10, to fold up in the usual manner, a horizontal trunk rack B, said rack being supported by the usual foldable arms such as 11. This rack is shown carrying a trunk C but is adapted yto carry any other luggage desired. rAllsormounted ries being exposed and subject to collision from the rear without effective protection.

My invention provides an auxiliary guard or bumper E which extends rearwardly from 5 and protects the trunk rack and which can be upon said chassis is the usualmain bumperV by, the trunk or other luggage which it carfolded back out of the way when the rack is not used to perform its function. This auxiliary guard as shown consistsof a spring horizontal and transverse guard member 14 which is bent nearits opposite ends into/'a pair'of shoulders 15 and a pair of laterally extending supporting arms 16. Each'of these supporting arms 1G is hinged near its end by a. pintle bolt 17 to the side lplate 18 ofa bracket F, there being one bracket F for each end of guard E. Said' bracket is formed vwith a supporting flange 19 which is adapted to be fastened to theforward side of the mam bumper D by a vrectangular washer .plate 2() and a bolt 21, the latter passing through the opening v between members -12 and 13. Said-washer iscupped at 22 to correspond with the convex surfaces of members 12 and`13. The side plate 18 is providedwith a slot 23V conforming with 'an arc described from the axis of the pint-le bolt 17 as aV center and adapted tocadmit a clampv bolt 24 passing through the end of oneof the supporting arms -16 to holdthe-guard E either in horizontal position as shown in full lines in Figs.

1, 2 and 3cr in vertical lposition as indicated by broken lines in Fi'gfl, when the trunk C isremoved and the ltrunk rackswung' up and forwardly. The wing nut 25 facilitates loosening or tightening .the bolt 24.1? A y -Y The brackets it will be noted are secured on the forward side of themain bumper Dand Vthe auxiliary guard Vor bumper l-extends over the Vmain bumper and rearwardly sulficient-ly to fully protect-,the trunkracky and the trunk or other luggage which it carries from `danger of rear end' collision. The shoulders 15 also project laterally beyond the Isides of said rack sufciently torend'er additional protection fromA collision.y

The main bumper and auxiliary guard are both resilient and by combining the two greater resiliency is obtained by the auxiliary guard vthan if the auxiliary guard were mounted upon a rigid support such as the chassis, which is an advantage.

Changes and modifications in details of construction are .contemplated within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with an automobile chassis having a foldable carrying rack on its rear end and a main bumper across said chassis and below said rack, an auxiliary guard across said rear end and extending rearwardly beyondV said rack to protect the latter and its load from rear end collision, the ends of said auxiliary guard being supported from the front side of said main bumper.

2. In combination with an automobile chassis having al luggage carrying rack on its rear end and a y main bumper across Asaid 'chassis and below said rack, said rack being foldablyy supported to turn forwardly, an auxiliary guard `supported from the front side of said main bumper and extending` rearwardly beyond saidrack and across said rear Vend Vto protect the latter when turned down against rear end collision, said auxiliary guardy being foldable forwardly into a'position 'ahead of the main bumper whenv sai-d rack is turned forwardly.

3. In vcombination with an automobile chassis having a luggage carrying rack on its rear end and a main bumper across said chassis and below said rack, said rack being Ifoldably Vsupported yto turn forwardly, an

tofthis specification.

`auxiliary guard across said rear end and extending rearwardly beyond said rack to protect the latter when turned ldown against rear end collision, and a pair of brackets secured to and projecting forwardly from the front side of the lmain bumper and upon which 'said auxiliary guard is foldable Yupwardly ahead of the main bumper when said rack is turned forwardly.

.4. In combination with an automobile chassis having a luggage carrying rack on its rear Vend and a main bumper across said chassis and below said rack, said rack being foldable-V toy turn forwardly,v an auxiliary guard across said rearvend, extending rearwardly beyond said racl; andhaving laterally protruding ends tol protect the rack and its load, 'a pair of brackets, each of which having ajsupportin'g plate 4secured against: the for` ward side ofthe main bumperiand a forwardly and upwardly projecting side to which thepends of said auxiliary guard are hinged to permit the auxiliary guard swing- 'ing forwardly ahead wof the main bumper and rearwardly into a position above andback of the main bumper and protecting theracK vfrom rear end'collision. f' Y In witness whereof, I have signed my name PAUL il.V siiiviinicr; 

